St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-13

The Cincinnati conference of the NJ.
Z. church. at its recent annual session,
adopted the report of the temperance
committee committing the conference
to the third party movement. There
was long and exciting debate over the
report, but the prohibition element,
under the leadership Of Rev. DR.. LEON
ARD BACON, the late Prohibition can
didate for governor in Ohio, won the
fight and secured the adoption Of the
report by a decided majority. This is
the first movement made by religious
denOmina ton in its organic capacity to
commit the church to the support of
prohibition as distinct political issue.
The Methodist church was the first re-
ligious body TO take up the fight
in favor of the abolition of
slavery. Its declarations on that
subject led to division of the church
away back in 1914. From that time on
it kept up an ineessant agitation of the
matter. and it is fairly in accord with
the truth of history to say that there
was no agency so powerful in bringing
about the final abolition of slavery as
the Methodist church. Now it proposes
to become the pioneer in the new cru
sadie to be waged in favor of the total
extinction OF the liquor traffic. The eX-
ample set by the Cincinnati conference
will unQHestionably be followed by
other conferences. 1t is a radical move
ment on the part of the church, it is
true, but that is all the more character
iS+J of
church is imbued with the spirit
of its founder, and is moth
Ing if not aggressive. 1t never
trims its sails to catch polite breezes,
nor is it satisfied to drift idly with the
popular tide. It usually points its
PROV toward the point of destination
and keeps a straight course without re-
gard to wind or wave. That is Method
ism. 1t now proposes to tackle intem-
perance in the same way that it did
slavery, with coat off and sleeves rolled
up. 1t Will not agree to any sort of COM
promise, nor will it stop to dicker with
existing political parties on the LIQUOR
question. If the liquor question is to be
made a political issue the Cincinnati
MethodistS propose to makeit a square
one. According to their view of it the
temperance issue is a great moral one
and cannot be compromised to suit the
expediencies of political parties. The
Republican high license dodge is too
transparent to beguile them.
TWO NOTABLE STATESMEN.
1t has been distinct disappointment
to the American people that those two
eminent English statesmen. JOHN
BRIGHT and GLADSTONE, were unable
to accept the cordial invitations extend
ed them to attend the Constitutional
centennial in Philadelphia.
America would honor herself in honor
ing these two men and she has long
wanted the opportunity to show them
the great esteem in which they are held
on this side of the water. The fore
most men in their country, GLADSTONE
and BRIGHT. have always shown an
evident love for freedom and a sincere
admiration for American institutions
that make Americans feel themselves
very near to them. They are the high
est type of England's public men and the
type is one America would see trans
planted to our shores with good deal of
satisfaction.
inflicted by so many English repre-
sentatives, who were neither ereditable
to their country OF. agreeable as visit
ors, it would be decided relief to
America to entertain men in every res
pect worthy. and there are none, ac-
cording to the American mind, desery-
ing of being placed upon as high a
plane as GLADSTONE and BRIGHT.